When standing in the batter’s box, it’s common to try and “protect the plate.”

However, how much does home plate mean to you? Really? Has it done anything to warrant your protection?

Let’s flip this- and flip it literally. If you took home plate and flipped it upside down, what would you see?

You should be seeing a house.

And who lives in your house? The people you care about most, correct? Next time, before you are about to step in and take your stance, look down at home plate and flip it.

Protecting the house is going to up the stakes and make what you are about to do more important to you. Imagining you are protecting the people you care about most will help you focus and your chances for hard contact will increase.